News for the Week of 4/30/14

"Oh Mary, We Crown You with Blossoms Today....Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May" 

The month of May is dedicated to the patron Saint of our school and also our parish community, our Blessed Mother Mary. The month of May provides us all with a wonderful opportunity to renew our own devotion to the Mother of God.  Beginning on May 1st, the Kindergarten and Second Grade classes will crown our Blessed Mother outside of the Main Entrance of the school each day after morning prayer.  A kindergartener will carry the crown and will assist a second grade student in crowning Mary.  We will then gather and pray the Hail Mary together to show our devotion to our Blessed Mother.  On Friday, May 9th, we will have our schoolwide May Crowning in the church at 10:30am.  This prayer service is being held on Grandparents' & Special Person's Day so that those we love can join us in our veneration of our patron saint.  More details regarding Grandparents' & Special Persons' Day appear below.

School Calendar Reminders - May is always a very busy month at SMS and this year is no exception.  Below are some important reminders -

IOWA testing continues through Monday, 5/5 for students in Grades 3 -7.  Tuesday, 5/6 and Wednesday, 5/7 are reserved for "make-ups" due to illness.  Please keep in mind that it is very important for students to arrive at school PROMPTLY by 8:40AM on IOWA testing days.  Late arrivals will not be permitted into a classroom if the testing has begun until there is a break.  Additionally, we ask that you try to avoid scheduling doctor and dentist visits during the testing period.  Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

IOWA Testing Snacks - Brain Food Needed!  There are still a few open slots for snacks. If you would like to contribute a healthy snack for students to enjoy during their break between test sessions, click here to sign up.

Grandparents' & Special Person's Day & May Crowning will be held on Friday, May 9th.  Guests are invited to worship at the 8am Parish Mass if desired and come across to the school by 8:40 to join us for community prayer and refreshments in the Parish Center.  After some student entertainment, guests will be welcome to visit in classrooms with their favorite students from 9:15 to 10:15.  At 10:15, all guests are invited to join us in the Church for our annual May Crowning prayer service.  The May Crowning will conclude our day's special activities at about 11am.  We hope many grandparents and special people can join us - no RSVP required! 

Spring Vocal Concert - On Tuesday, May 13th, the students of St. Marys School will present "Salute to America,' a  concert celebrating our country, it's history and culture.  All students in grades Kindergarten through Grade 8 participate in this concert and attendance is required.  Performance is considered part of a student's music grade.  Students should arrive at 6:45 wearing their "Sunday Best."  "Sunday Best" is defined as no jeans for boys or girls.  Additionally, for boys, "Sunday Best" means a collared shirt with walking shorts or slacks, socks and shoes.  For girls, "Sunday Best" means walking length shorts, skirt or skort or slacks and a shirt or blouse that covers the shoulders.  It may also be a modest length dress that covers the shoulders.  No flip-flops or backless sandals and no high heels.  The concert begins at 7:00 pm.  

Spring Band Concert - On Thursday, May 22nd, our Spring Band Concert will be held.  There will be a 2pm dress rehearsal that is open to guests along with the 7pm evening performance.  Additional details regarding student dress and arrival will be available soon.

Art Show - The SMS Annual Art Show will have its opening night at our Spring Vocal Concert on Tuesday, May 13th.  The Art Show will be on display in the Parish Center.  The Art Show will remain up through the Spring Band Concert on May 22nd so there will be plenty of time to enjoy our students' art work.

Friday, May 23, is a 12:45 Early Dismissal.  There will be no PreKindergarten Enrichment or Aftercare.  School is closed on Monday, May 26, for Memorial Day.

Our next school Mass will be the Feast of the Ascension on Thursday, May 29th.  We will worship with our Parish family at the 12:15 Mass.  Everyone is welcome to join us.  Please remember that no physical education uniforms should be worn to Mass.  Please note that there will NOT be a school Mass on Friday, May16th.  This is a change to our school calendar.

Calling all golfers!  Please join us on Thursday, May 29th at Hop Meadow Country Club for a day of golf, fellowship and fun.  The cost of $175 includes lunch, a golf shirt, happy hour and dinner.  You are welcome to register a foursome or an individual and we will be happy to pair you up with another golfer.  Please click here to download a registration form orclick here to visit the Golf Tournament website.

We are also looking for sponsorships.  Sponsorships start at tee signs for $100 to lunch sponsors  at $1,000 to golf cart sponsors at $2,000.  Show your support for St. Mary's School and catholic education by sponsoring this year's tournament.  Click here for Sponsorship form.

The application period for the 14-15 Trust Scholarships is now open. The guidelines for scholarship eligibility are available on our school website. Click here.
The application form has been sent to all families using the SMS Families 13 email distribution list on Monday, April 28, 2014.  It is also available on our school website.  Click here to access the application form.  ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN MAY 30, 2014.

Grace portraying Mrs. Josephine Dodge
of the Anti-Suffrage platform.

Saint Mary's Stars - Congratulations to Grace Domashinski, Grade 7!  On Saturday, April 26th, 2014, Grace Domashinski won first place individual performance at Connecticut State History day for her project, A Tea and Discussion of Women's Suffrage in Simsbury, Connecticut. In her performance, Grace plays three women, Mrs. Antoinette Eno Wood - Suffrage Platform, Mrs. Joesphine Dodge - Anti- Suffrage platform, and Julia Pattison- Librarian for the Simsbury Free Library, trying to decide on which side of this issue she belongs while voicing her concerns about the issues of the time period, 1915 and 1923 , and her hopes for the future. Grace will be now be attending National History day in Washington, D.C. from June 14 - June 19, 2014.

Home & School Association News - SAVE THE DATES!

Flatbread Benefit Night for  the 13/14 HSA Auction & New Playground Fund  - Tuesday May 6, 2014

Come out and "Raise some Dough" for St. Mary's School. All you have to do is eat pizza. Who doesn't love pizza? Flatbread Pizza at the Shoppes in Farmington Valley in Canton on Route 44 has been so kind to offer help St. Mary's School raise additonal funds for our auction fundraiser. On Tuesday, May 6th a portion of every Flatbread pizza, dine in or carry out, sold from 5-9pm will go to our school. Spread the word. No coupons needed. Flatbread enjoys giving back to the local community by supporting local farms and local producers. Its a win-win situation. You don't have to cook and St. Mary's School and your children benefit.

The Summer Reading Scholastic BOGO fair is coming soon so mark your calendar for  May 15-19.  More details about operating hours will be coming soon!

Community News

You are Invited to the Second in the Series of:  The Catholic Church in the Public Square.
Save the Date:  June 8, Sunday 1 - 3:00pm at St. Catherine of Siena Church in West Simsbury
 Featured Panelists: Rev. Msgr. John J. McCarthy, Chancellor, Archdiocese of Hartford; Daniel P. O’Connell, Chairman, Saint Francis Care Board of Directors; Jeff Mateer, Esq., General Counsel of The Liberty Institute
The panelists will address the Affordable Care Act and its moral, legal, and health care implications in light of Catholic Teaching and Religious Freedom.

Vacation Bible Camp is back and registration is NOW OPEN! Wilderness Escape runs Monday through Thursday, June 23rd to June 26th.  Registration and volunteer sign up is now open!  Click here.  If you have questions, email Kerri Work at kwork@stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net.

Spring means it's Road Race Time!  Registration is now open for the 43rd running of the Granby Road Race! Join the fun at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, for one of Connecticut’s longest-running events. Click here for more information and a registration.

Runners (and walkers) are also invited to participate in the first annual Granby Bear 5K Challenge and help support Granby Bears Athletics! This event is fun for the whole family, with a 5K division and also a Kid's Fun Run prior to the 5K. The 5K course starts and finishes at the Granby Memorial HS track. The run is a two loop course with gently rolling hills. The course features one challenging uphill. Walkers encouraged to participate in the 5K! Food and concessions will be available post-race.Click here for more information.

Summer of Science Adventures at Talcott Mountain Science Center - Exciting summer science programs are available at the Talcott Mountain Science Center for students entering grades K-9 in the fall of 2014.  Click here for more information and registration.

Students in Mrs. Gillen's Seventh Grade Honors Literature Class worked cooperatively to create a "media blitz" about the heroic event featured in the novel, The Outsiders.

Blog Correction - Last week, our blog incorrectly reported that Ava Canning raised $5,762 for Jump Rope for Heart.  The post should have indicated that SMS raised a total of $5,762.  Ava was our school's top earner with a donation of $325. Thanks to all for this outstanding effort for a fabulous cause!